Intrusive Aunt
“Help your relatives? Is that too much to ask? Just boot them out and make room for us!” The woman insisted on her free stay in the big city. “Sophie has always dreamt of visiting London! We’ve already bought our tickets and we’ll arrive tomorrow! Make sure the flat is ready by then, okay?”
“Sure, right away.” The student smirked, ready to end the conversation. “Maybe I should roll out the red carpet too? Like I said, work it out yourselves.”
It was a lovely June day. Alex was returning from university, happy the exams were finally over. Now, he could relax a bit. On his way home, he popped into a store to grab some junk food for a series binge. Back at the apartment he shared with his mates, Sam and George, he planned on spending the day alone when suddenly his phone rang. The screen showed: “Mum”.
“Hi, Mum!” The student greeted with a smile. “How’s everything? Not missing me, are you?”
His mother’s comforting voice, worn-out yet warm, came through the line:
“Hello, darling,” replied Jane Thompson, delighted to hear her son. “Oh, we’re busy as usual, no time to get bored,” she said with a quiet chuckle. “How’s your studying? How did your exams go?”
“I passed them all, Mum,” Alex said, munching loudly on crisps. “Now I’m looking for a summer job.”
“Thank heavens.” Jane let out a sigh of relief. “I need to ask you a favour…”
“What is it?” asked the young man with curiosity.
“Remember Aunt Debbie? My cousin?”
Alex strained his memory, trying to recall who Aunt Debbie was. Racking his brain for relatives on both his mum’s and dad’s sides, he couldn’t quite place her.
“How could you forget?” Jane sounded a bit surprised. “She visited us ten years ago on your birthday. She has a daughter, Sophie.”
Oh, now Alex remembered. Aunt Debbie had indeed been at the party, but the memories weren’t fond.
As he recalled the party, he remembered how the aunt had gifted him an atrocious sweater, wandered around his room criticizing the mess while his parents were in the kitchen preparing the meal.
“My Sophie has a spotless room,” Aunt Debbie had declared, inspecting every shelf, “not a speck of dust! And this mess? Your parents didn’t raise you properly, and you’re turning into a little piggy.”
Back then, little Alex didn’t fully grasp the adult’s words. Was it really that bad to have toys scattered or mugs left on the table?
And then there was Sophie… She was two years younger than Alex and acted however she wanted in someone else’s house—obviously, her mum hadn’t taught her manners. When Alex asked her to leave his room, Sophie just giggled, stuck out her tongue, and rummaged through his drawers. Upon finding Alex’s favourite colouring book, she first examined it with interest and then tore it apart, looking at him wickedly. Alex couldn’t take it anymore; he barely managed to reclaim what was left of his book and forcefully shoved Sophie out. Outside, her cries escalated into a tantrum, followed by the heavy footsteps of a woman who quickly appeared at the doorframe.
“You little beast!” Aunt yelled, glaring at Alex. “Are you hitting my daughter?”
“I didn’t hit her,” the boy tried to defend himself, pointing to the bits of paper, but she wouldn’t listen. Instead, she slapped him hard, hoisted him by his shoulders and shook him violently. “I’ll teach you not to hurt my girl!”
Alex stared wide-eyed at the woman. Dangling in the air, his legs flailed as tears streamed down his face. With a sidelong glance, he saw his parents, equally shocked. Finally, his father managed to free him, almost dragging Debbie out by her hair, tossing her and her crying child out of the apartment. He hadn’t seen them since.
Recalling the “celebration” for his mum, Alex heard a heavy sigh and her next words:
“You need to leave the past behind, dear. It’s been years; don’t hold grudges. I’m sure Debbie’s changed over time.”
“I’m not so sure,” Alex doubted the aunt had become any more reasonable. “So why bring her up, Mum?”
Jane hesitated before replying.
“Well… Debbie, along with Sophie and her father, plans to visit you in London. They hoped to stay at your place for a week or so. Also, it would be wonderful if you could show them around the city, visit some sights.”
“Oh, so that’s why the sudden appearance,” Alex thought as he listened to his mum.
“Sorry, Mum, but I can’t put them up,” replied Alex. “There’s no space for them. Besides, Sam and George are paying tenants too; they’re just as entitled to be here. If the family really wants to visit, they should book a hotel.”
“You’re right,” Jane agreed. “I’ll let her know. Alright, have a good rest, sweetheart.”
After saying their goodbyes, Alex decided to tidy up a bit. He turned on the vacuum cleaner and didn’t hear his phone blaring insistently. When he eventually noticed the missed calls, he was shocked—twenty missed calls from an unknown number. He decided to call back and was immediately greeted by an angry woman.
“Alex!” shouted Debbie, not bothering with a hello. “Why aren’t you planning to let us stay at your flat? Don’t you realize how expensive hotels are in the city?”
“I’ve already explained things to Mum,” the shrill voice transported him back to unpleasant memories. “I live with other people; the flat isn’t just mine…”
“So, what, helping your relatives is now difficult? Just kick them out—it’ll make space!” Determined, she wouldn’t quit her demand for a free stay in the big city. “Sophie has dreamed of London! We’ve already booked our tickets; we’re arriving tomorrow! The flat should be ready!”
“Right away,” the student retorted with a smirk, ready to hang up. “Need a red carpet too? Figure it out yourselves.”
With a clear conscience, Alex continued cleaning. When Sam and George got home, he relayed the saga, and they laughed at the absurdity of it.
“Your aunt’s off her rocker, don’t let it bug you,” chuckled George, twirling his finger near his temple. “I’ve got loads of nutty folks around me; I’m used to it.”
In good company, Alex forgot about the episode. The following morning, he woke up in great spirits, deciding to stay in. While he was absorbed in a computer game, his phone rang unexpectedly. Once again, it was Aunt Debbie.
Perplexed about what she could want now, he answered the call.
“Hello.”
“And where are you?” Debbie’s tone was sour as she questioned her nephew. “We’re standing at the station, waiting for you to pick us up!”
“Pick you up?” Alex asked, bewildered and distracted from his screen.
“To the flat, where else?” Her voice blasted through the phone. “Or have you lost your mind? Do you not recall our talks?”
Dazed by her audacity, Alex yelled back:
“Maybe it’s you who needs a reality check? Can’t handle that I’m not offering free accommodation? You wanted to come to London—then enjoy it, feel the breeze!”
He abruptly ended the call, blocking her number. This trivial nonsense dampened his mood for the rest of the day. He wandered the apartment, avoiding the flatmates, thinking:
“Honestly, enemies can keep such relatives… Thank goodness they don’t know my address…”
Meanwhile, Debbie wouldn’t leave Jane alone, lamenting her plight:
“Your Alex has been totally corrupted by that big city! Here we are, in trouble, and he… Tell him not to expect any help from us in the future! It’s not happening!”
Jane Thompson just shook her head, listening to her cousin’s tirade.
The End.
